DECATUR, IL, Jan. 14 – A Decatur man who was slain in 1961 was arrested in Peoria in 1949 along with a companion, Charles Manson, West Coast cult leader who is being held in connection with a recent mass slaying near Hollywood.

He is Harold Junior “Blackie” Nelson, who was working here as a bartender when fatally shot as a climax of an early-morning argument.

According to records, Nelson and Manson became acquainted in Boys Town in Nebraska.

Both Nelson and Manson were 14 years old at the time. Nelson had been at Boys Town about two days and Manson had been there about three days when they ran away.

Records in the office of Russell Hoendorf, chief probation officer of Macon County, show that Nelson was sent to the Nebraska home at Nelson’s request.

Authorities believe that Nelson and Manson were en route to Decatur when they stopped at Peoria.

The two were arrested by Peoria city police and charged with committing a $1,700 burglary at a Peoria food store.

Records show that Manson was returned to Indianapolis, Ind.. where he was wanted, and committed to the Indiana Boys School in Plainfield.

After running away from the home Manson was committed to the National Training School for Boys in Washington. D.C.

Nelson was returned to Decatur for probation violation and returned to the supervision of the courts.

The man who shot Nelson was arrested by city police for murder. The Macon County grand jury refused to indictment on the charge.

By GLEN R. COOPER